On a rainy night of New Year’s eve, a lonely little girl was saddened by the disagreements that brought upon her family members.
Litte girl sadly said, "It's Chinese New Year's Eve, but it's been raining all day long. New Year is coming but everyone is not in a good mood. Brother insists on buying a new motorcyle. Dad, Mom, and Brother are quarelling about it again."
Dad told to Brother, "Can't you use the old motorcycle ? You just know how to spend money !"
Mom also said to Brother,"The economy is bad, why don't you just use the old one ?"
Brother angrily said, "The old motorcycle breaks down all the time, you can use it ! I won't !"
"It's your fault. You have spoiled him !", Dad said to Mom.
Little girl asked herself, "It’s New Year, but why is everyone unhappy ?".
"Kitty, can you tell me how to make everyone happy for the New Year?", asked the little girl to her cat.
Then, outside the window, the little girl looked four old men were coming, "Dad, Mom, look ! Brother, come and see, quick !"
Mom said to the old men, "Ah, it’s raining so heavily, Sirs, please come in for shelter !"
Old man #1 said, "Haha, thank you for your kindness, Madam. But we have a rule, only one of the four of us can come in. Who do you wish to invite in ?"
The four old men then introduced themselves one by one.
Old man #2 : "I am Wealth."
Old man #3 : "I am Success."
Old man #4 : "I am Well-being."
Old man #1 said with a laugh, "Haha, everyone call me Harmony."
Dad said to the four old men, "Surely we should invite in Wealth, then we can have a comfortable life !"
Brother said, "No, no, choose Success ! I want my family to be proud of me !"
Mom said, "Wait a moment ! I think Well-being is the most important !"
Dad exclaimed, "Wealth !"
Brother exclaimed, "Success !"
Mom exclaimed, "Well-being !"
Little girl asked to her mother, "Mom, Mom, What is harmony ? Why don’t you invite in Harmony ?"
Dad said, "Yes, you’re right ! Why don’t we invite in Harmony ? New Year is here, we should be harmonious. Let’s invite Mr. Harmony in, then !"
Seeing that all of the four old men came in together, little girl’s father said, "Eh ? I thought you said only one of you can come in ? Why did all of you come in ?"
Old men #1 replied,"Haha, we have another rule. If Harmony enters, Well-being, Success and Wealth will follow."
Little girl happily said, "Now I understand. To be happy is to be in harmony."
You can watch this full inspirational story in animation Youtube 《和諧》He Xie Animation
Story written by Ven. Master Xin Yun (Master Hsing Yun)
http://www.harmony.gov.au
This video explains a lot of information about Harmony Day.
What are the key words? As you listen write down the words you would like to put on our Harmony Day word wall.
Read this information about Harmony Day. Write down 5 facts you found out in your own words. Are there any words we could add to our Harmony Day word wall?
We identify with approximately 300 ancestries, around 7.2 million people have migrated to Australia since 1945, 45% of Australians are either born overseas or have a parent who was, and Harmony Day has been celebrated with 55000 events since it began in 1999
21 March is Harmony Day. The message of Harmony Day is "Everyone Belongs". It is a day to celebrate Australia’s diversity. It is a day of cultural respect for everyone who calls Australia home – from the traditional owners of this land to those who have come from many countries around the world. There are many ways we can celebrate Harmony Day – through sport, dance, art, film, music, storytelling, cooking and sharing cultural meals. By participating in Harmony Day activities we can learn and understand how all Australians from diverse backgrounds equally belong to this nation and make it a better place. Harmony Day is an Australian Government programme and coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Since 1999 Harmony Day has been widely celebrated across schools, childcare centres, community groups, churches, businesses and federal, state and local government agencies. To encourage celebrations, free Harmony Day promotional material is available to those who register events on the website. There are also educational resources for teachers and students to celebrate Harmony Day in their schools.
Facts and figures
There are some fascinating stats about Australia’s diversity that can be good conversation-starters. Did you know…
Around 45 per cent of Australians were born overseas or have at least one parent who was born overseas.
People from over 200 countries make up the Australian community.
More than 300 languages are spoken in Australian homes.
Apart from English the most common languages spoken in Australia are Mandarin, Italian, Arabic, Cantonese, Greek, Vietnamese, Tagalog/Filipino, Spanish and Hindi.
More than 60 Indigenous languages are spoken in Australia.
01
A Chinese Story About Harmony
On a rainy night of New Year’s eve, a lonely little girl was saddened by the disagreements that brought upon her family members.
Litte girl sadly said, "It's Chinese New Year's Eve, but it's been raining all day long. New Year is coming but everyone is not in a good mood. Brother insists on buying a new motorcyle. Dad, Mom, and Brother are quarelling about it again."
Dad told to Brother, "Can't you use the old motorcycle ? You just know how to spend money !"
Mom also said to Brother,"The economy is bad, why don't you just use the old one ?"
Brother angrily said, "The old motorcycle breaks down all the time, you can use it ! I won't !"
"It's your fault. You have spoiled him !", Dad said to Mom.
Little girl asked herself, "It’s New Year, but why is everyone unhappy ?".
"Kitty, can you tell me how to make everyone happy for the New Year?", asked the little girl to her cat.
Then, outside the window, the little girl looked four old men were coming, "Dad, Mom, look ! Brother, come and see, quick !"
Mom said to the old men, "Ah, it’s raining so heavily, Sirs, please come in for shelter !"
Old man #1 said, "Haha, thank you for your kindness, Madam. But we have a rule, only one of the four of us can come in. Who do you wish to invite in ?"
The four old men then introduced themselves one by one.
Old man #2 : "I am Wealth."
Old man #3 : "I am Success."
Old man #4 : "I am Well-being."
Old man #1 said with a laugh, "Haha, everyone call me Harmony."
Dad said to the four old men, "Surely we should invite in Wealth, then we can have a comfortable life !"
Brother said, "No, no, choose Success ! I want my family to be proud of me !"
Mom said, "Wait a moment ! I think Well-being is the most important !"
Dad exclaimed, "Wealth !"
Brother exclaimed, "Success !"
Mom exclaimed, "Well-being !"
Little girl asked to her mother, "Mom, Mom, What is harmony ? Why don’t you invite in Harmony ?"
Dad said, "Yes, you’re right ! Why don’t we invite in Harmony ? New Year is here, we should be harmonious. Let’s invite Mr. Harmony in, then !"
Seeing that all of the four old men came in together, little girl’s father said, "Eh ? I thought you said only one of you can come in ? Why did all of you come in ?"
Old men #1 replied,"Haha, we have another rule. If Harmony enters, Well-being, Success and Wealth will follow."
Little girl happily said, "Now I understand. To be happy is to be in harmony."
You can watch this full inspirational story in animation Youtube 《和諧》He Xie Animation
Story written by Ven. Master Xin Yun (Master Hsing Yun)
http://www.harmony.gov.au
This video explains a lot of information about Harmony Day.
What are the key words? As you listen write down the words you would like to put on our Harmony Day word wall.
Read this information about Harmony Day. Write down 5 facts you found out in your own words. Are there any words we could add to our Harmony Day word wall?
About Harmony Day
http://www.harmony.gov.au/about/21 March is Harmony Day.
The message of Harmony Day is "Everyone Belongs". It is a day to celebrate Australia’s diversity. It is a day of cultural respect for everyone who calls Australia home – from the traditional owners of this land to those who have come from many countries around the world.
There are many ways we can celebrate Harmony Day – through sport, dance, art, film, music, storytelling, cooking and sharing cultural meals. By participating in Harmony Day activities we can learn and understand how all Australians from diverse backgrounds equally belong to this nation and make it a better place.
Harmony Day is an Australian Government programme and coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Since 1999 Harmony Day has been widely celebrated across schools, childcare centres, community groups, churches, businesses and federal, state and local government agencies.
To encourage celebrations, free Harmony Day promotional material is available to those who register events on the website. There are also educational resources for teachers and students to celebrate Harmony Day in their schools.
Facts and figures
There are some fascinating stats about Australia’s diversity that can be good conversation-starters. Did you know…- Around 45 per cent of Australians were born overseas or have at least one parent who was born overseas.
- People from over 200 countries make up the Australian community.
- More than 300 languages are spoken in Australian homes.
- Apart from English the most common languages spoken in Australia are Mandarin, Italian, Arabic, Cantonese, Greek, Vietnamese, Tagalog/Filipino, Spanish and Hindi.
- More than 60 Indigenous languages are spoken in Australia.
These facts are taken from ABS 2011 Census Data. Check out the //Australian Bureau of Statistics website//for more interesting facts and figures.